A young Charleville performer has the entertainment world at his feet this week following a stunning victory in the final of the Voice of Ireland contest at Dublin’s Helix Theatre last Sunday evening.

19 year old Keith Hanley, a young man with deep west Limerick roots and who is a student of Early Childcare studies at Mallow College of Further Education captured the hearts of the nation following his top class performance in Sunday evening’s final to send to victory over three other finalists.

Keith scooped a lucrative recording contract and it will be down to business next week when plans will be set in train for his debut album which could be released as early as late summer or early autumn.

“ I cannot stress how grateful I am, not only to the local people but people from outside areas who have believed in me from the start and who followed my journey,” he told the Weekly Observer. “They may have seen a lot of me in the series but there is a lot more to come and I will continue to entertain,” he vowed.

The popular young entertainer who works voluntarily with children with special needs at the Holy Family School, Charleville was quick to dedicate his success to them. “This is for them, music is another form of communication in a positive way, a medicine of hope,” he said.

After a rollercoaster few days during which the young star was accorded a hero’s welcome on his return to his native Charleville on Tuesday evening, he plans to take a few days’ rest before heading back to Dublin on Friday for an appearance on this week’s Late Late Show.